Page 31 of Sleeping with the Frenemy

“It’s been fine,” Sofi assured her. “Besides the times I made him show me the new things in the distillery, I hardly see him and he’s been on his best behavior. It’s almost like he grew up or something.”

They reached the door that led to the kitchen and Kamilah reached out to grab the handle. “He really has,” she told Sofi. “Leo’s always been a firm practitioner of the ‘work hard, play hard’ credo, but now he mostly just works hard. It’s kind of worrisome actually.”

They bypassed the staff and machinery in the kitchen. Sofi felt a bit awkward seeing that she didn’t recognize anyone when she used to know everyone including a bunch of the customers. “We all have to grow up sometime,” Sofi said. “He couldn’t be Peter Pan forever.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” Kamilah paused outside the swinging doors. “I just wish he seemed happier about it.” She put a hand on Sofi’s back and pushed her through the doors.

The first thing Sofi registered was a mob of colors that eventually took the shape of Vega family members. The second thing was the yelling. There were shouts of “surprise,” “sorpresa,” “bienvenidos,” and “welcome home” all at the same time.

Kamilah closed her eyes and shook her head. “I should’ve given them more specific instructions.”

“This is perfect,” Sofi exclaimed, her hands at her chest. She blinked rapidly, because there was no way she was going to let anyone see her cry. “Thank you.”

“Sofi!”

“We missed you so much!”

In a second she was enveloped in two pairs of arms. Lucy and Eliza squeezed her with all their might. Kamilah’s cousin and her wife were the other two members of Sofi and Kamilah’s little crew, but Sofi had abandoned them when she’d made her break from the Vegas. She felt terrible about it now. They hadn’t deserved to be left on read. “I’m sorry, y’all. I should’ve responded to you. Cutting you out of my life wasn’t fair.”

Lucy waved her off. “Please, do you think we don’t wish we could take a break from the family by just disappearing for a year? These people are animals.”

“Besides,” Liza said, “you saved us a bunch of awkwardness. Can you imagine how annoying Kamilah would’ve been if you’d talked to us and not her?”

“Hey!” Kamilah said.

“You know it’s true, but we love you anyway,” Liza said, pulling Kamilah back into the hug.

Kamilah grimaced. “It is true. I would’ve driven them crazy.” She hugged Liza. “And I love your rude ass too, Lizzo.”

“Liza,” Lucy immediately corrected. She hated Kamilah’s nickname for her wife even if her resemblance to the famous singer made it fitting.

Sofi didn’t know why Lucy hated it so much. If she had a wife that looked like Lizzo, Sofi would tell everyone. Both she and Kamilah had said that so many times that it was basically a running joke between them all. “It’s good to be back,” Sofi said.

“Okay, okay. Enough hogging the guest of honor.”

Sofi turned to see Kamilah’s dad, Santiago, standing there.

He held out his arms. “I want to give my other daughter a hug.”

Sofi pulled herself away from her friends and practically dove into his arms. She knew that he had a tendency to be a bit too hard on his kids, especially Kamilah and Leo, but Sofi loved Santos Vega. He’d always made her feel welcome and went out of his way to talk to her. He’d ask her about school, her plans, and books that they’d both read. He’d given her advice and praise. She was positive that he’d done it because he’d known she didn’t have a dad around most of the time, but that just made her like him all the more.

“It’s good to have you back,” he told her in Spanish. “You were very missed.”

Valeria stepped up beside him and Santos let Sofi go so they could hug. “It’s true,” she said. “No one can wrangle Kamilah and Leo like you can.”

“Hey, I’ve been very good lately,” Kamilah said.

“That’s true,” Valeria agreed. “That medicine has really helped you.”

Sofi shot Kamilah an alert look. “Medicine? What medicine?”

Kamilah’s expression said,Well...“I’m sure this won’t come as a huge shock, but I have ADHD.”

“Really?” Sofi asked, although looking back she could see a lot of the signs.

“Thankfully my therapist suggested I get tested. It took a while and then it took even longer to find the right medication and dosage, but now I’m good.” She paused. “Well, not good good, but way better.”

“Good for you, going to therapy and getting your mind right,” Sofi told her and she honestly meant it.

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